Next Adventure Series
I have written about the many different things you can do in our area, which quite honestly is just chock full of experiences just waiting for all those that come. This time I thought I would plan out what 36 hours could look like for your spring trip.
Spring on the point is glorious, the leaves are a bright green having just newly formed, the air is sweet and fresh with ocean breezes. The migrating birds stop over for a rest, giving us the opportunity to see types that are not here all the time. Spring flowers provide us with the much-needed color we have missed during the winter. And since it is not quite the height of the season, there are less people.
There are so many sights to see, experiences to enjoy and meals to savor that one day simply is not enough to enjoy the Pemaquid Peninsula. In fact, I’ve now been here for six years and I’m constantly discovering new adventures and beauty all around me. However, not everyone is so lucky with their time.
If all you have time for is a two-night, three-day visit, be sure and maximize your stay. In fact, I’m sharing the perfect way a local would spend 36 hours on the Pemaquid Peninsula.
Friday
- 3:00 pm Arrive
Welcome to The Bradley Inn! After a long trip it’s finally time to unwind. Stretch your legs with a refreshing but short walk to the Pemaquid Peninsula. You’ll be enveloped in Maine’s beauty and reminded why you wanted to escape for a few days.
Return to the inn and relax in the comfort of your room, out in our garden areas or on a comfy couch in our community living room. If, like me, food and drink are part of your unwinding, you can order a charcuterie board and drinks ahead of time and we’ll have them ready for your arrival. We have some nice wines, either red and white, or if craft beer with pretzels and nuts is your thing we’re thrilled to be serving from Maine craft breweries.
Freshen up and get ready for your vacation.
- 6:30 pm Drinks and Dinner
Guests are given preferential reservations at The Bradley Inn Restaurant. Start your evening with one of our signature cocktails before deciding what delicious meal you’d like to savor. Our seasoned chef embraces fresh, locally sourced items as much as possible and the kitchen’s attention to detail is evident when your orders arrive at your table. House soups, fresh salads, lobster ravioli, vegetable curry, duck confit and filet mignon are just a few of our specialties . Be sure to leave room for desert and peek at our extensive wine, ports and cordials list. Note gluten free, vegetarian, vegan as well as other allergy and dietary preferences can be accommodated.
- 9:00 pm Retire
Your luxurious bed is extra inviting tonight, and the quiet envelopes you as you drift off for a great night’s sleep.
Saturday
- 7:00 am Coffee/Tea
The aroma of locally-roasted Seacoast Coffee will lure you to the dining room. Visit the gardens to practice your yoga moves or simply read the paper. More active folks may want to go for a run or walk in the still quiet of early morning. You may even spot some of the beautiful migratory birds passing by. Many guests download the Audubon Bird Guide App to help identify the birds you’ll encounter along the way. Just don’t get too distracted as another gastronomical adventure awaits.
- 8:00 am Breakfast
It’s time to enjoy a scrumptious breakfast. Starting with more coffee/tea, water and juice, enjoy fresh fruit and baked goods. Then, a made-to-order hot entrée is available, using local fare whether from our garden or a local farm. Our breakfasts are substantial, satisfying, and extraordinary.
- 9:30 am Pemaquid Lighthouse Park
A mere 4 minute walk to the Pemaquid Lighthouse Park will provide you with an awesome view of the Lighthouse and the unrivaled rock formation on which is stands. You can easily spend hours just taking in the view from the various focal points. The Fishermen’s Museum is open to the public and is a must see. It is jam packed with all sorts of items and memorabilia about the marine and fishing heritage of the Bristol area.
- 12:00 pm Puffin Watch Cruise
This migratory highlight of springtime in Maine is colorful, fun, and adventurous. The Hardy Boat Puffin Watch Cruise leaves from nearby New Harbor. A National Audubon Project Puffin naturalist will be on board to help with bird identification and to answer questions. Seeing these incredible, quirky little birds should be on everyone’s bucket list. The cruise lasts 1.5 hours.
(Purchase tickets in advance – $45 – $50. Parking is $10. Arrive at the wharf at least 30 minutes prior to push off – boats leave on time and wait for no one.)
- 1:30 pm Shaw’s Wharf
After being on the water spend some time beside it. Walk along one of the only remaining purely working harbors left in Maine. Watch the lobster boats arrive and see up close the fishermen’s expertise and skill as they unload their day’s catch. With its iconic location right on New Harbor you can sit out on the wharf and enjoy a quintessential Maine meal, lobster and steamers. If seafood is not your thing there are plenty of other items from which to choose.
- 3:00 pm Round Pond
Just 12 minutes away is the town of Round Pond …
A trip to Granite Hall Store in Round Pond is a trip to nostalgia. This old-fashioned general store features everything from penny candy to toys, kitchenware, Maine books, soaps, jam, etc….and don’t forget their ice cream! Absolutely fresh, creamy and everything childhood is wrapped up in each scoop. Cross the street and visit The Art of Antiquing – even if you’re not an antique shopper. Winding through this beautifully curated collection of European Antiques is a wonderful experience, and who knows – you may be lucky and find a treasure.
- 6:00 pm The Bradley Inn
Finish up the day back at The Bradley Inn with a drink at our beautiful bar which is in a room finished entirely in shiplap and full of nautical memorabilia.
Dinner options abound in our area. Again, guests receive preferential reservations at our dining room, or make your way to one of the many restaurants located in Damariscotta or Newcastle. Below are links to some of our favorite restaurants, but always feel free to speak with someone at the Inn to get recommendations.
8. After Dinner
Enjoy the evening sky, where there is no light pollution. Experience for yourself why our area is the destination spot for world-renowned night-sky photographers. Here the darkness allows the stars to twinkle and the moon to shine. Make a wish and know it really can come true.
9. 9:00 pm Retire
Those luxurious sheets are calling your name. Snuggle in and breathe in the fresh air of Maine as you happily drift off to sleep, recalling the beauty you’ve seen today and the sweet swells of the ocean waves.
Sunday
- Enjoy coffee/Tea and breakfast again at The Bradley Inn.
- You have a couple of options for your way out:
- Looking to get in a quick hike before you leave? Drive up Route 32, the way you went to Round Pond, to La Verna Preserve. Park in the small lot and cross the road to hike through the woods. A short 15 to 20 minutes in and you will emerge from the woods to a breathtaking view of Muscongus Bay and its Islands.
- Rather walk around town. Drive up to Damariscotta and spend an hour or two walking along the main street, with its many shops and eateries, you will be set for the ride home or to your next destination.
The above plan was crafted for a weekend trip, however if can be adapted to other times during the week. You will need to confirm times and dates open for the businesses listed above. Also, The Bradley Inn Restaurant is not open seven days a week so give us a call to get our schedule.
The Bradley Inn opens for the season on Friday, May 12th.
